"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
John Stuart Mill

Thursday, December 01, 2005

199 Reasons NOT to Vote Liberal

Here are 100 reasons I cannot vote Liberal this coming election.1. Cancelling the Sea King replacement2. Sponsorship scandal3. Gun Registry4. HRDC boondoggle5. Problems with Transition Job Funds program6. Tainted blood7. Radwanski Spending Affair8. Pearson Airport9. GST Flip Flop10. Airbus Investigation11. Voting against Red Book promise of independent Ethics Commissioner12. Irving fishing lodge stays/travel on Irving jets for cabinet ministers13. Martin traveling on private corporate jets as Finance Minister14. Don Boudria’s stay at Boulay owned chalet15. Denis Coderre staying with Boulay16. Alfonso Gagliano being appointed Ambassador to Denmark17. Shawinigate18. Claude Gauthier (PM’s friend)’s Transelec getting CIDA grant that wasquestioned by the Auditor General and even CIDA.19. Liberal fundraiser Pierre Corbeil charged with fraud by RCMP after heapproached several Quebec companies seeking federal job training grants andasking for payments to Liberal Party, having gotten the names from seniorQuebec Liberal Minister, Marcel Massé.20. Michel Dupuy, Heritage Minister, lobbying the CRTC.21. Tom Wappel refusing to help blind veteran22. Gagliano’s son benefiting from contracts from his father’s department23. Gagliano’s former speechwriter, Michèle Tremblay was on a $5,000 a monthretainer with the Canada Lands Company to provide speeches for the Minister.Former President John Grant let her go saying "we got nothing in return."Grant claimed that all Crown Corporations reporting to Mr. Gagliano weretold to put Ms. Tremblay on a monthly retainer.24. Iltis replacement25. Purchase of new Challenger jets for the Prime Minister and cabinet26. NATO Flying Training program contract27. Liberal friends appointed as IRB judges being investigated by RCMP28. Hedy Fry’s imaginary burning crosses29. Maria Minna’s improper municipal vote30. Minna giving contracts to two former campaign staffers for publicrelations work for a conference that had already been held31. Lawrence MacAulay and contracts directed to Holland College32. Lawrence MacAulay and Tim Banks33. Lawrence MacAulay hired his official agent, Everett Roche, for $70K, butRoche never did any work for it. (Oct 2002)34. Art Eggleton and contracts to his ex-girlfriend35. Copps’ aide Boyer’s spending habits36. Collenette resigns for breach of ethical guidelines involving a letterhe wrote to the Immigration and Refugee Board37. APEC Inquiry38. Andy Scott's 1998 resignation that came eight weeks too late, after amedia circus wore him down for indiscreetly shooting his mouth off on anairplane.39. Anti-American comments by Liberal MPs, officials, and the formerMinister of Natural Resources.40. Rock and the Apotex/Cipro affair41. Rock giving Health Canada contract to car cleaning company.42. Manley lobbying CIBC on behalf of Rod Bryden43. Manley’s fundraiser suggesting donors to his leadership write it off asa business expense.44. Manley using his pre-budget consultations as Minister of Finance tosolicit support for his leadership bid.45. Coderre’s relationship with Group Everest46. Martin’s fundraiser/employee of Finance Jim Palmer47. Martin’s "blind trust" and his relationship with CSL.48. Gerry Byrne requesting fundraising money be sent to his home address,with no records kept.49. Gerry Byrne pouring bulk of ACOA money into his own riding.50. Virginia Fontaine Addictions Foundation51. Prime Minister’s former assistant, Denise Tremblay’s huge travelexpenses on Veterans Review and Appeal Board as Minister pleaded poverty toveterans’ widows.52. Chrétien appointing Hon. Roger Simmons (former Trudeau ministerconvicted of income tax evasion) as Consul-General in Seattle53. Chrétien trying to bring hit-and-run driver Carignan back into caucus.54. The RCMP is investigating possible fraud and bribery within IndustryCanada, involving possible "overpayments" to recipients of federal businessgrants. The probe centres on the National Research Council, which hands outfederal grants to small- and medium-sized businesses.55. More than half a dozen bureaucrats have been "removed" from their jobsat a Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) in Toronto following a policeinvestigation into projects funded under one of the department's grants andcontributions programs56. Revenue Minister Elinor Caplan called in the RCMP and ordered a sweepingsecurity review after four tax department computers were stolen containingconfidential personal information on more than 120,000 Canadians.57. More than $7 billion stashed in Foundations by Finance Minister PaulMartin with little or no accountability58. Dhaliwal overseing Richmond-airport-Vancouver transit line while beingowner of the airport limousine service59. Tom Rosser, former Dhaliwal advisor lobbying Natural Resourcesdepartment and minister on environmental issues only months after leavinggovernment.60. $5.3 million GG northern travel61. GG budget doubles in 5 years62. Robert Thibault giving a grant as ACOA minister to a wharf and boatyardwhere his brother-in-law has a monopoly.63. Royal LePage contract, which the government was forced to cancel in thewake of serious concerns being raised.64. Shutting down the Somalia Inquiry65. Home heating rebate, which was sent to prisoners and deceased.66. Martin firing Bernard Dussault, Chief Actuary of CPP67. Ethel Blondin-Andrew buys fur coat on government credit card68. Chrétien’s imaginary homeless friend.69. Liberal MP Rick Laliberte’s extensive travel budget70. Liberal Senator Thompson living in Mexico71. Vendetta against former BDC President François Beaudoin72. The flag give-away – which estimates suggest might now have cost $45million instead of the promised $6 million, and reportedly involved fakeinvoices.73. Gagliano’s two week trip, at taxpayers’ expense, for a two day eventwith the head of the Royal Canadian Mint and Maurizio Caruso.74. Secretary of State for multiculturalism and status of women SheilaFinestone using government car (which junior ministers are only allowed touse for government business) to drive home to Montreal, which even SheilaCopps criticized. (Ottawa Citizen, May 22, 1994)75. Liberal MP Jag Bhaduria’s hate mail to his former employers, wishingthat they had been shot by killer Marc Lepine76. Liberal MP Jag Bhaduria making false claims about his academicqualifications.77. Paul Martin and Maria Minna attending fundraising dinner for grouplinked to Tamil Tigers in May 2000 (National Post, Sept. 8th, 2001).78. David Anderson, as National Revenue Minister, suing the government forlost wages after being removed as IRB appointee by Conservative governmentseeking $454,000 from a deficit-ravaged federal treasury. (Vancouver Sun,July 24, 2004). Anderson eventually agreed to drop the suit.79. David Anderson suggesting that the BC doesn’t need extra House ofCommons seats, because they wouldn't be worth much given the poor quality ofmost West Coast MPs. (Vancouver Sun, July 24, 2004)80. A consultant on an executive interchange program persuaded NaturalResources to undertake a $700-million reorganization of its researchfacilities for which no business case had been made. The program wasfast-tracked because he had developed a social relationship with the deputyminister. He was eventually charged with diverting $525,000 to a numberedcompany he controlled. (Globe and Mail, May 30, 2005)

And the list continues under Prime Minister Martin:81. Raid on reporter Juliet O’Neill’s home by RCMP82. Permanent Resident Cards83. Judy Sgro going on vacation as cards became mandatory and landedimmigrants were left stranded84. Minister Frulla’s renovations85. Pay raises for chiefs-of-staff in ministers offices, while spending isfrozen for public service.86. The government’s changing numbers on how much money has gone to CSL87. Lobbyists in Paul Martin’s transition team being allowed to return tolobbying immediately, after being involved in process of picking new cabinetand senior staff.88. Minister Comuzzi’s anti-Quebec comments89. Martin government using closure after only six days in the House ofCommons, followed by using time allocation in the Senate.90. Problems with DND’s contracts with Compaq Computers that may have costtaxpayers up to $159 million for work not performed.91. Martin using government jets to tour the country campaigning beforeelection, spending up to $1 million for air travel alone.92. Martin’s relationship with Earnscliffe93. Questionable contracts to Earnscliffe94. The appointment of former Liberal MLA Howard Sapers as the CorrectionalInvestigator of Canada95. Pierre Pettigrew’s flip flopping on health care96. David Dingwall’s expenses as head of Royal Canadian Mint97. Liberals planning to give David Dingwall a severance package after heresigned98. The secret National Unity Fund reserve99. Calling an early election after earlier promising first to get to thebottom of the sponsorship scandal100. Martin suggesting changes to legislation and introducing bill thatbenefited CSL, despite concerns from his own Deputy Minister that he was ina conflict-of-interest (Ottawa Citizen, May 26, 2004)

And here are 99 more101. $99 million Public Works contract that went to company overseen byLiberal fundraiser and future Senator Paul Massicotte (Montreal Gazette,June 26, 2004)102. Parliamentary Secretary Dan McTeague’s 3-person, $224 trip to aPizzeria103. Immigration Minister Judy Sgro’s staff being allowed to stay on"extended travel" benefits, letting them bill taxpayers’ for thousands ofdollars in hotel rooms and meals, because they didn’t want to move fromToronto to Ottawa until after the election.104. Correctional Service of Canada Commissioner Lucie McClung’s travelexpenses105. Contracting irregularities on more than two dozen projects at DND worthtens of millions of dollars, showing over-billing, profit excesses,unauthorized additional work, lack of accounting records, spiralling costoverruns, etc. (Globe and Mail, July 14, 2004).106. ACOA Minister Joe McGuire canceling ACOA loan and grant to ABLIndustries Inc. because it would compete with company in his riding.(Fredericton Daily Gleaner, July 17, 2004).107. Andy Mitchell’s chief of staff’s $22,000 in expenses to commute toOttawa (Toronto Star, August 2, 2004).108. André Ouellet’s travel and hospitality expenses at Canada Post.109. Government delaying release of audit on Ouellet until after theelection (Globe and Mail, July 31, 2004).110. Martin’s principle secretary Francis Fox’s sister getting untenderedcontracts (The Province, July 27, 2004).111. Continuing problems in advertising files at Public Works (Ottawa Sun,July 26, 2004).112. A Liberal Party of Canada fundraising letter signed by Paul Martin,asking potential contributors to offer $7,000, $7,100 or $7,200 incontributions – far in excess of donation limits passed by the very sameLiberal government113. Liberal Senator Raymond Lavigne violating municipal bylaws.Municipality pursuing legal action against him. (Ottawa Citizen, August 19,2004).114. Spa Days for inmates approved by the Correctional Service of Canada,which on Aug. 21 invited inmates at the Grand Valley Institution for Womenin Kitchener, Ont., to dabble with manicures, pedicures and aromatherapy,not to mention cups of tea served in fine china, all accompanied by a harpserenade. (National Post, September 9, 2004).115. Five employees in the ''overwhelmed'' immigration section of Canada'sembassy in Iran have been fired over the past year after they each werecaught breaching federal ethics rules (National Post, September 13, 2004).116. Questionable contracts and spending from the Canada Investment andSavings group set up by Martin in 1996 (Globe and Mail, September 13, 2004)117. Questionable contracting practices at Canada Information Office (TheHill Times, September 13, 2004).118. A top Canadian diplomat based in China has resigned amid reports he isbeing investigated for allegedly taking bribes to help Chinese nationalsenter Canada illegally. (Vancouver Sun, September 22, 2004).119. Abuse of government credit cards by staff at Fisheries Department (CPWire, September 24, 2004).120. Canada’s questionable hiring of the niece of Syria's foreign affairsminister to work at the embassy in Damascus (Globe and Mail, October 5,2004)121. Hélène Scherrer using Challenger to fly to Banff during election togive partisan speech122. Abuse of Challengers by Paul Martin and various ministers (eg. AndyMitchell, Claudette Bradshaw)123. Abuse of Challenger jets for political business instead of governmentbusiness (Le Devoir, October 4, 2005)124. Paul Martin taking Challenger jets to Liberal fundraisers125. Challenger food bill of $508 per flight126. Expenses during election filed by aide to Ralph Goodale127. Questionable expenses during election filed by aides to Judy Sgro128. Ongoing problems and safety concerns with the submarine program129. Various federal departments reported in excess of $1.1 million in theftof computers in 2003, but the information is potentially more valuable thanthe hardware (Vancouver Sun, October 14, 2004).130. According to the latest public-accounts-of-Canada reports for theperiod March 2004 and March 2005, over 700 laptops, desktops and centralprocessing units went missing from 35 federal government agencies -- worth$6 million. (The Province, October 19, 2005)131. Federal government has lost track of $587 million a year in EIoverpayments and underpayments at the Department of Human Resources. (OttawaCitizen, October 12, 2004). However, the government defends itself bystating that in fact it has only lost track of $25 million a year andcollects the other overpayments. (Ottawa Citizen, October 13, 2004)132. $133,000 grant to a Toronto film company that used classified ads tosearch for the "perfect" thingy. (National Post, October 14, 2004).133. Man convicted of fraud against government hired to teach ethics courseto public servants (National Post, October 20, 2004).134. Public Works selling confiscated grow-op equipment to drug traffickers.(National Post, October 21, 2004).135. Pressure by Liberal MPs and ministers on ACOA to make funding decisionsbased on politics (New Brunswick Telegraph Journal, October 25, 2004).136. Paul Martin’s Director of Communications Scott Reid insulting Premierof Newfoundland and Labrador (Toronto Star, October 28, 2004)137. The Martin government spent $127,223 on a poll last February testingways to diffuse negative reaction to the bombshell auditor-general'sreport -- which included the finding the Liberals ignored their own rulesprohibiting the use of tax dollars on partisan polls (Vancouver Sun,November 8, 2004).138. Judy Sgro’s campaign volunteer (a stripper) getting ministerial permit139. Sgro’s senior policy advisor going to strip club to meet with owner todiscuss bringing more strippers into Canada. (National Post, November 25,2004). Subsequent revelations indicate that he went to at least one otherstrip club to conduct similar meetings (Toronto Sun, December 7, 2004)140. Sgro giving out details of private immigration files, violating PrivacyAct141. Allegations that Sgro broke the elections law in failing to properlyidentify the source of a campaign contribution. (Toronto Star, December 8,2004).142. Revelations that the program to bring in foreign exotic dancers wascreated under pressure from organized crime (National Post, December 18,2004)143. Irwin Cotler appointing his former chief-of-staff to federal court(National Post, November 23, 2004).144. Heritage Minister Liza Frulla giving grant to magazine that put her onthe cover and made her honourary president (Ottawa Citizen, November 25,2004)145. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointingLiberal MP John Harvard as Lt-Governor of Manitoba, in order to get him tostep aside for "star" candidate Glen Murray.146. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointingLiberal MP Yvon Charbonneau to UNESCO, in order to get him to step aside forMartin crony Pablo Rodriguez.147. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointingformer Liberal MP Karen Kraft-Sloan as Ambassador for the Environment.(Department of Foreign Affairs Press Release, February 16, 2005).148. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointingdefeated Liberal candidate Dave Haggard as the chair of a newly createdAdvisory Committee on Apprenticeship. (OIC 2005-0001)149. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointedhis friend Dennis Dawson to the Senate150. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointedhis former Principal Secretary Francis Fox to the Senate151. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointeddisgraced former cabinet minister Art Eggleton to the Senate152. Martin and his wife complaining about having to live in 24 Sussex(Edmonton Journal, November 17, 2004)153. Millennium Bureau spending done with same lack of controls andoversight of sponsorship program154. The RCMP has charged a senior Immigration Canada manager and fouraccomplices in an alleged bribes-for-status scheme in which Arab immigrantspaid up to $25,000 to have their claims fast-tracked and approved (NationalPost, December 17, 2004)155. Making widows of RCMP officers killed in the line of duty pay for theirhusbands’ funerals (Under pressure from the Conservative Party, thegovernment reversed this policy)156. Martin patronage-appointee Jim Walsh breaking ethics guidelines andattending Liberal Christmas Party (St. John’s Telegram, January 20, 2005).157. Port authority losing more than $60,000 in public funds on the stockmarket. When Central Cape Breton Community Ventures took over the port inIona in 2000, the private agency deposited only $5,000 of the $245,000 itreceived from Transport Canada into a designated bank account. The federalfunding was meant to cover the port's maintenance, insurance andprofessional services costs (Chronicle-Herald, January 31, 2005).158. Canadian flag lapel pins being made in China. Only under pressure,Scott Brison flip flops and agrees to have them made in Canada again.159. Questionable dealings around the privatization of the Digby Wharf,which even Liberal MP Robert Thibault wants the RCMP to investigate(Chronicle-Herald, February 10, 2005).160. Adrienne Clarkson spending $17,500 to evaluate cleaning at Rideau Hall(Ottawa Sun, February 19, 2005)161. Martin patronage appointee Glen Murray breaking ethics guidelines andattending Liberal Convention as delegate162. Martin ignoring parliamentary committee and appointing Glen Murray aschair of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy163. Marlene Jennings, the Parliamentary Secretary for Canada-U.S.relations, making anti-American remarks164. Government knowing about details of torture and murder of Zahra Kazemiback in November and still sending ambassador back to Iran165. Government knowing about details of torture and murder of Zahra Kazemiback in November but doing nothing166. Tens of thousands of dollars were spent on questionable acquisitions atCFB Borden (Ottawa Sun, April 18, 2005).167. Joe Volpe keeping stripper visa program operating, despite havingpromised to shut it down (CTV.ca, March 5, 2005)168. Jean Lapierre acting as lobbyist without registering169. Joe Volpe trying to intimidating Sikh community170. In the spring of 2003, the RCMP investigated allegations that LiberalMP Gurbax Malhi had requested favours and financial support for PaulMartin's 2003 leadership campaign in exchange for helping Indian nationalsget these temporary resident permits (Globe and Mail, March 10, 2005).171. Liberals spending $443,237 to change the name Passport Office toPassport Canada (Montreal Gazette, April 21, 2005).172. Ken Dryden’s chief of staff charged with careless driving (OttawaCitizen, March 22, 2005)173. Liberals trying to buy off Conservative MPs with offers of patronagepositions174. Liberals handling of the submarine program175. Public Service Integrity Officer’s travel expenses (Ottawa Sun, May 4,2005)176. Liberal Senator Michel Biron going to hearing to support killer KarlaHomolka (CTV News, June 9, 2005)177. Public Works contract watchdog Consulting and Audit Canada violatingcontracting rules (Toronto Star, July 4, 2005)178. Technology Partnerships Canada rules being violated to pay lobbyists(Globe and Mail, June 24, 2005)179. Former Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Robert Nault is working asa paid lobbyist for Nelson House First Nation in what some allege is anapparent violation of a federal code of conduct. Among the federaldepartments Nault is lobbying is the Indian and Northern Affairs departmenthe headed until December 2003, according to a lobbying report Nault filedwith the federal government. Nault registered as a lobbyist for NelsonHouse, now known as Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, on July 18, 2005 -- oneyear and seven months after leaving his cabinet post. Under the Conflict ofInterest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders, Nault is barredfrom working for any entity with which his department had "direct andsignificant official dealings" for two years after leaving office. He isalso barred for two years from lobbying his former department or any of hisformer cabinet colleagues (Winnipeg Free Press, September 14, 2005)180. According to documents obtained by the Globe and Mail, Pierre Pettigrewbilled Canadian taxpayers for $10,000 for trips for his driver in 2001 and2002. Pettigrew took his driver to South America and Europe, even though thedriver didn’t do any driving on the trips. (Globe and Mail, September 14,2005)181. Joe Volpe’s questionable hospitality expenses (Globe and Mail,September 21, 2005)182. According to media reports, Industry Canada has frozen federalfinancing for research projects by an Ontario biotechnology firm pending theoutcome of an investigation into the company's agreement to pay $350,000 inlobbying "success" fees to former Liberal cabinet minister David Dingwall.Such contingency fee payments violate Technology Partnership Canada rules.(Globe and Mail, September 23, 2005)183. Expenses of chairman of the Royal Canadian Mint Emmanuel Triassi, whoalso approved David Dingwall’s expenses (Globe and Mail, October 4, 2005)184. Last week, Public Works was also silent on details of another caseinvolving forensic accounting. Government accounts published on Thursdayshowed a department employee had embezzled $3.45 million from Public Worksoffice in Koblenz, Germany. Even though the employee was convicted andjailed in Germany, Public Works will not name him or give any details of thecrime (Ottawa Citizen, October 4, 2005)185. The federal government inadvertently revealed yesterday that it isconducting a large-scale forensic accounting probe into "possibly criminalmatters" when it published details of a contract intended for a Quebecaccounting firm. The notice awarding a $2-million contract for forensicaccounting services was published on the government's tendering website,MERX. It gave notice that Consulting and Audit Canada was planning to awardthe sole-source contract to Leclerc Juricomptable, a Quebec City firmspecializing in forensic work and litigation support. The contract awardnotice said the work had to be sole-sourced to Leclerc because it is "not inthe public interest to jeopardize the current investment in theinvestigation or to significantly increase the risk to a successfulcompletion of the investigation into possibly criminal matters." A spokesmanfor the Department of PublicWorks and Government Services said yesterdaythat the notice was published "prematurely" and would be withdrawn lastnight. He could not say, however, what is under investigation, but said thecontract was not tied to another scandal that has kept Quebec forensicaccountants busy over the past years. "It's not related to sponsorship orGomery, that I can tell you," said spokesman Pierre Teotonio (OttawaCitizen, October 4, 2005). It was subsequently revealed that the departmentinvolved was CIDA (CP Wire, October 4, 2005)186. Questions about campaign funds from Raymond Chan’s campaign going tohis companies (Vancouver Sun, October 7, 2005)187. Questions about a possible conflict-of-interest between Chan’sactivities as minister on behalf of possible business associates (VancouverSun, October 7, 2005)188. Questions about the report that Chan filed with the Ethics Commissioner(Vancouver Sun, October 7, 2005)189. Government giving out contract that specifies no paper trail to be leftin government offices (Vancouver Province, October 11, 2005)190. Questionable travel expenses at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans(CP, October 16, 2005)191. Two employees at DFO fired for making fraudulent travel claims (CP, TheProvince, October 18, 2005).192. Lobbyist registrar Michael Nelson has launched investigations of fourpeople for eight possible breaches of the ethics guidelines for lobbyists,the first such investigations ever launched under the code. (Globe and Mail,October 18, 2005)193. According to media reports, the federal government has terminated twocontracts with a consulting firm that used to be run by Liberal MP DavidSmith and now run by his wife, following a forensic audit of the contractingpractices at a federal agency (Globe and Mail, October 19, 2005)194. ATI requests by prisoners for information on prison system and guards,when information is actually disclosed195. Liberal candidate Richard Mahoney lobbying for satellite radio companyfor a month before registering (Ottawa Citizen, October 19, 2005)196. Delays and ballooning costs mean a giant software project at NationalDefence will eclipse its original budget and won't meet its goals until2011 -- if at all. An internal audit obtained by Canadian Press raises redflags about a new system designed to streamline computer tracking ofmilitary inventory and purchases. MASIS -- or Materiel Acquisition SupportInformation System -- started in 1997 as a $147-million undertaking. Whatbegan as a focused effort to cover a single equipment category in each ofthe navy, army and air force soon mushroomed. By 2003, Defence officialsestimated MASIS would be in place by 2006 at a cost of $325 million, morethan twice its forecast budget. A full introduction of the complex softwarehas now been extended to 2011. The heavily censored May 2005 internal audit,released under the Access to Information Act, catalogues a litany of"revised planned milestones.'' "The prime contract has been amended sixtimes, each time increasing amounts for professional service fees,'' itsays. (CP, The Record, October 24, 2005)197. Hospitality and travel expenses of executives at CMHC (Journal deMontréal, October 24, 2005)198. Questions about Squamish land deal lease (The Province, October 26,2005)199. Liberals handling of tainted water at Kashechewan First Nation

P.S. I got this off of a fishing site, and I don't know who the author is, but I sure have to congratulate him.

Well I have to admit that the reasons are good! I just hope that Harper will do as he told during the campain and will not chock on essentials issues like defense, relation with our great neighbours....Have an excellent day!